¹⁴ Then the Lord’s anger burned^(A) against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet^(B) you, and he will be glad to see you.

¹³ So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large room upstairs,^(A) furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

⁷ This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.

²⁷ The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at the mountain^(A) of God and kissed^(B) him.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶ But Timothy^(A) has just now come to us from you^(B) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(C) He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.^{(D) 7} Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(A) not those of Jesus Christ.

⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast,^(A) comforted us by the coming of Titus,^{(B) 7} and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

¹³ I still had no peace of mind,^(A) because I did not find my brother Titus^(B) there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.^(C)

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”^(A)

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”^(B)